Birdy Bootie Protective Bird Shoes, Chicken Shoes for Hens and Roosters, Standard Breeds, Chicken Pair (3" Max. Inside Width), Gray

great product

I greatly regret ordering these "booties." I have a rooster who was struggling with bumblefoot, but I soaked his feet regularly with Epson salts water and wrapped both feet well with gauze (with drawing salve, and later Neosporin), followed by vet wrap. This went on for more than two months before I ordered these "booties." The foot that had the scab got well, but the other foot--which had no visible sign of bumblefoot even from the outset--never ceased to bother him. My main purpose was to better pad his foot so that he could walk comfortably, and I had hopes that the silver-treated material would help with healing whatever the problem was. I was persuaded by reviews that mentioned the economy of these bird shoes, given that I had already exceeded their price by at least double. However, I did have a question after ordering (and seeing how long the lag time would be before receiving them), so I called the company. Talking to someone then was not an option, but someone would get back to me real soon. There apparently is quite a lag time for that, too, but I finally got a call from a company rep soon after the boots were sent. She didn't know the answer to my question but said that the owner knew a lot about poultry and promised she (the owner) would call the next day. That never happened, and I'm certainly not expecting it to happen.Before putting the boot on, I lightly dressed my rooster's foot pad with a dab of Neosporin and a single piece of gauze--no vet wrap, nothing bulky. I had problems getting them on him, but a multitude of reviewers speak of initial difficulties getting them on. These would abate as the boot was used, they said.Two days later, I realized that two of my roosters' toenails had turned black. I took the boot off immediately. The rest of the toe (in each case) was not discolored, but it seemed to have some sort of transparent slime on the skin, like a thin, delicate layer of skin. It peeled off to the touch.The next morning, one toe was entirely black and had no flexibility. The other toe has some black where the toe meets the pad, but was still supple. This morning, the black toe is clearly necrotic. If this is gangrene (and no, it doesn't smell), then it missed the green stage typically associated with gangrene altogether.Would this have happened without the birdie bootie? No. As I said, I had been tending to his feet for more than two months before receiving this product. My impression is that the boot cut off the circulation in those two toes.The toe that is entirely black is clearly dead; from my research, I gather that it will fall off on its own. I don't even want to predict what will happen to the other toe. If this infection or whatever it is goes further, my rooster may well lose that foot, and I'm now doing research on DIY prosthetics for him in case the whole foot must be amputated. I will not put him down in any event.Don't tell me to go to a vet. I live in a deeply rural area in Appalachia. The livestock vets around here don't understand the whole livestock-as-pets thing, given that livestock are money and food--and nothing else--in this area. To them, people like me are outrageous eccentrics.I will post photos of Finn's toes soon, preferably before they both fall off. (I don't have a cell phone--cells don't work where I live--and it will take me time to track down my digital camera.)edit, July 31:After writing the above, I did find a small-animal vet, a new "exotic animals" addition to a local veterinary clinic, who will see him tomorrow, August 1. Finn isn't exactly "exotic," but the new vet has chickens herself, and she surely has more academic science background than I do.Aug. 3, 2019Finn had surgery yesterday. The necrotic toe would have fallen off, but there was discoloration at the base of the neighboring toe, and the vet needed to dig that out, but the black toe was in the way. She cut the dead toe off, cut the tip of the neighboring toe off (it was black), then removed all the infection at the base. She wrapped everything after a heavy application of Neosporin. Finn is on an anti-inflammatory/pain reliever and an antibiotic (amoxicillin). I am tending to him at home now.From the veterinarian's report before the surgery: "Finn has a dead toe and a partially dead toe next to it, likely from lack of circulation due to the sock applied. The foot is is full of infection. We need to amputate the toe and the tip of the other toe and drain out the abscess." Plenty more detail in scientific language (digits and "distal phalanx" etc.) that I can add.This surgery, which was unnecessary until I used this "bootie," cost me $315.Finn is 6 pounds.I strongly suggest that the sale of this product be discontinued on Amazon. Had the company producing it simply called me when I asked, this situation could have been averted. This alleged "rescue" is not worth supporting.

Love the neoprene material! Sturdy stitching in bottom. Velcro keeps it on the foot. A little tricky getting her feet in there but they are doing the trick. Got a case of bumblefoot here. and made in the USA!!

The media could not be loaded.  I have an Australorp that has a recurring bumblefoot infection on her right pad. I've done surgery, soaked, etc... but she manages to get her vet-wrap off one way or another and it leaves her foot vulnerable. I got these booties not knowing what to expect. THEY.ARE.AWESOME. A little tight going on the first couple of times but within 3 days of wearing one on her right foot, the hole in her foot (from where the kernel was) is almost completely closed! It TOTALLY protects her foot and in conjunction with my bumblefoot treatment routine is clearing up a longtime ailment. I'm buying another pair so I can rotate them while the dirty one is cleaned and dried.I've included a video of the first time she walked around with the bootie on. WARNING: She poops in the video.. like a HUGE one. She had just gotten out of a warm foot-soak-bath and has been wrapped in a towel for over 30 minutes during her bumblefoot treatment. It's a chicken. Poop happens. Animals are why I don't have rugs, lol!!!!

I had a hen who got attacked by a dog and needed some support for her sprained toes and hock. This worked well for her toes but man was it a pain to get on her, especially with an injured foot. It does have good padding and protection but I still get irritated thinking about having to put it on her. She's all healed up now and happy.